Vial grabber inspection apparatus

Abstract

The present invention generally involves an apparatus and method for grabbing a plurality of vials from a container. In particular embodiments, the present invention may provide a reliable apparatus that a vial inspector may use to pick up a plurality of vials from a container of vials so that the vials can be inspected wherein the apparatus tends to standardize inspection output across a variety of users making the task more productive and production goals easier to establish.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A handheld vial grabber apparatus comprising:
 a base having a grabber portion and a handle portion wherein said grabber portion has a grabber portion top surface and an opposing grabber portion bottom surface that extend away from said handle portion to a grabber point and wherein said handle portion extends away from said grabber portion at a predefined handle angle to a handle point;   a plurality of vial ports defined at said grabber point wherein each of said plurality of vial ports is configured to receive at least part of a vial;   a retainer movably associated with said grabber portion wherein said retainer defines a plurality of vial latches and wherein said retainer is disposed adjacent to one of said grabber portion top surface or said grabber portion bottom surface, so that said plurality of vial latches are adjacent to said vial ports; and   an actuator mechanically associated with said retainer and configured to move said retainer to one of an engaged position or a disengaged position.   
     
     
         2 . A handheld vial grabber apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said retainer defines a first retainer surface and an opposing second retainer surface and wherein the first retainer surface is disposed adjacent to said grabber portion top surface and the second retainer surface is configured to receive said actuator. 
     
     
         3 . A handheld vial grabber apparatus as in  claim 2 , further comprising bottom plate disposed adjacent to the grabber portion bottom surface and wherein said retainer is movably mechanically associated with said bottom plate. 
     
     
         4 . A handheld vial grabber apparatus as in  claim 3 , further comprising a resilient element defining a resilient element first end and a resilient element second end and wherein said resilient element first end is associated with a bottom plate tab defined by said bottom plate and wherein said resilient element second end is associate with a retainer tab defined by said retainer so that said retainer is biased in the engaged position. 
     
     
         5 . A handheld vial grabber apparatus as in  claim 4 , wherein said grabber portion defines a void configured to receive said resilient element and wherein said resilient element is suitably sized to fit at least partially inside said void. 
     
     
         6 . A handheld vial grabber apparatus as in  claim 2 , wherein said actuator defines two opposing actuator tabs. 
     
     
         7 . A handheld vial grabber apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said handle portion defines two opposing risers that extend away from said grabber portion to a gripping element and wherein a grip gap is defined between said two opposing risers and wherein said grip gap is configured to allow a user to grab the gripping element. 
     
     
         8 . A handheld vial grabber apparatus as in  claim 7 , wherein said handle angle is between 80 degrees and 150 degrees. 
     
     
         9 . A handheld vial grabber apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said base is at least partially translucent and said retainer defines a plurality of retainer voids. 
     
     
         10 . A handheld vial grabber apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising an electronic module comprising:
 a processing device;   a memory electrically associated with said processing device for storing a first logic;   at least one sensor electrically associated with said processing device configured for detecting movement of said actuator; and   wherein said processing device is configured to execute said first logic which causes said processing device to generate inspection information.   
     
     
         11 . A handheld vial inspection apparatus as in  claim 10 , wherein said electronic module further comprises communication circuits electrically associated with said processing device configured to communicate with a remote device. 
     
     
         12 . A handheld vial grabber apparatus comprising:
 a base means for providing a handle at a first end and a grabber point at a second end;   a plurality of vial ports defined at said base means at said grabber point;   a retainer means movably associated with said base means and configured for engaging and retaining vials in said vial ports when placed in an engaged position and disengaging from the vials when placed in a disengaged position;   an actuator means mechanically associated with said retainer means and configured for transitioning said retainer means between the engaged position and the disengaged position.   
     
     
         13 . A handheld vial grabber apparatus as in  claim 12 , further comprising a resilient means for biasing said retainer means in one of the engaged position or the disengaged position. 
     
     
         14 . A handheld vial grabber apparatus as in  claim 13 , wherein said resilient means is a spring. 
     
     
         15 . A handheld vial grabber apparatus as in  claim 12 , wherein said base means has defines a grabber portion and a handle portion wherein the handle portion has two risers that extend away from the grabber portion at a predefined handle angle between about 80 degrees and about 150 degrees. 
     
     
         16 . A handheld vial grabber apparatus as in  claim 15 , wherein said risers extend away from each other at a predefined riser angle to create a predefined riser gap between the risers and wherein said predefined riser angle is between about 35 degrees and about 55 degrees. 
     
     
         17 . A handheld vial grabber apparatus as in  claim 12 , wherein said base means is at least partially translucent and said retainer means defines a plurality of retainer voids for allowing light to shine to and through said base means. 
     
     
         18 . A handheld vial inspection apparatus as in  claim 12 , further comprising an electronic module means for detecting movement of said actuator and communicating with remote devices. 
     
     
         19 . A handheld vial grabber apparatus comprising:
 a base defining two opposed surfaces that bend to create a horizontal surface and a vertically extending surface;   a plurality of vial ports defined at a free end of said horizontal surface wherein each of said plurality of vial ports is configured to receive at least part of a vial;   a handle defined at the free end of said vertically extending surface;   a retainer movably associated with said base;   a plurality of vial latches defined by said retainer and configured for engaging and retaining vials within said plurality of vial ports when said retainer is moved to an engaged position and wherein said plurality of vial latches are configured to release the vials when the retainer is moved to a disengaged position;   an actuator mechanically associated with said retainer and configured to move said retainer to the engaged position or the disengaged position; and   wherein said handle and said actuator are positioned relative to each other to allow a user to grasp the handle and actuate the actuator using one hand.   
     
     
         20 . A handheld vial grabber apparatus as in  claim 19 , further comprising a resilient element for biasing said retainer in one of the engaged position or the disengaged position.